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How do people go about setting the drag? I've been told before to set so that it starts to slip just before the breaking strain of the line, but surely this will be too much under shock loading, ie when striking?
Pete, with respect, you're right about the standard drag equations. Generally they're relevant, but how may of us in the UK bother testing or setting drags to those settings? Its all trial and error here.it dosent matter what stiffness your rod is or hook size unless you are yousing a 10-15 kilo rod with 10lb line on it and what person would do that????? the rule of thumb for drag settings is one third the breaking strain of your line ie 15lb would be 5lb drag setting you screw the drag down when fishing heavy structior so you at least stand some chance of hauling the fish out before you loose every thing the correct drag will make for more enjoyment when fighting fish pulled hooks are par for the course when in heavy structior
That's pretty much how I see and do it, Nath. I wasn't taught that. It just felt right.I find my catch rate go's through the roof when the drag is set low, by low i mean where I can pull line off with my hand with not much effort, as a lot of bass are won and lost at your feet, By this I Mean where there isn't much line between you and the fish.
I have played with different settings, with different rods but a drag set on the lighter side Rules in my book! If a bass hits you hard close in, 6ft for example....YOU have no time to adjust anything.
My experience is mainly coarse and fly fishing but Daves point is that the rod is still at an angle to the line/fish so the rod is playing its part as a shock absorber when playing a fish. The purpose of the clutch is to give line when the pressure of the fish is greater than the rod is designed to take (assuming balanced tackle is being used). Once a rod gets past c. 90 degrees then its normally unable to absorb much further pressure hence every additional ounce of pressure from the fish is passed directly to the hook hold/line, unless you give line, the line will break or hook will pull. I set a failry light clutch on almost all fishing locations and use my finger to apply greater pressure when necessary. The only exception might be chub or carp fishing in very snaggy swims where to give line too easily might result in a lost fish before you know it (not that relevant to lure fishing but you get the point!).Don't really know if this would apply to lure fishing. But playing a fish such as barbel on a high rod will often result in pulled hooks. A low rod even to the extent of the tip under water with side pressure. Results in more fish on the bank and also a lot quicker to. But as I said at the beginning how this would relate to lures I am not sure! But remember in fresh water fish that are far heavier than the braking strain of the line ie. 20-30lb carp on10-15lb line are landed by low rod and side pressure.
It relates equally well. People just need to have faith and learn some skills.Don't really know if this would apply to lure fishing. But playing a fish such as barbel on a high rod will often result in pulled hooks. A low rod even to the extent of the tip under water with side pressure. Results in more fish on the bank and also a lot quicker to. But as I said at the beginning how this would relate to lures I am not sure! But remember in fresh water fish that are far heavier than the braking strain of the line ie. 20-30lb carp on10-15lb line are landed by low rod and side pressure.
Agreed Dave but you are trying to keep 90 degrees to the fish all the time to give you the cushion. Have caught 25lb carp on 5lb line when fishing for tench before now with out the clutch being used as they just are not that fast that I couldn't give line by winding backwards. Watch Matt Hayes he does exactly the same, has a high set clutch and prefers to reel backwards for more control...for carp. But these are Bass and require different tactics IMHO.Dave said:But remember in fresh water fish that are far heavier than the braking strain of the line ie. 20-30lb carp on10-15lb line are landed by low rod and side pressure